Record strip aligner for manifolding machines



April 6, 1937. L. F. HAGEMANN 2,076,022

RECORD STRIP ALIGNER FOR MANIFOLDING MACHINES Original Filed Dec. 21,1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

BY 3 I M @141. ATTORNEYS.

April 1937- L. F. HAGEMANN 2,076,022

RECORD STRIP ALIGNER FOR MANIFOLDING MACHINES Original Filed Dec. 21, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 6, 1937 RECORD STRIP ALIGNER FOB MANI- FOLDING MACHINES Louis Fred. Hagemann, Niagara Falls, N. Y., aa-

signor, by mesne assignments, to American Sales Book Company, Inc., a corporation oi Delaware Application December 21, 1929, Serial No. 415,637 Renewed September 14, 1936 12Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in manifolding or like machines and more particularly with reference to some of the detail features thereof it relates to improvements in such mani- 5 folding machines of the class known as typewriters, whereby multiple inscriptions may be simultaneously made upon a plurality of superposed registering work webs or record strips by means of type bars or similar writing means.

10 It is a general object of the invention to provide, for machines of the class mentioned, an improved feeding and aligning mechanism for the work webs or record strips, whereby the latter may be fed forwardly to bring fresh areas 15 into writing positions and at the same time the several work webs are constantly adjusted so as to keep at all times the corresponding writing areas or blank forms of the different webs in correct superposed registry for manifolding inscrip- 20 tion and to avoid progressive or other disalignment of the webs.

A further object is to provide, for machines of the class mentioned, an improved feeding and aligning device which may be embodied in existing machines with a minimum of labor and effort.

Still another object of the invention is to provide, for machines of the class mentioned, an improved feding and aligning mechanism having feeding and aligning devices positively and constantly in engagement with the strips and functioning to keep the latter in correctly aligning superposed registry.

A further object is to provide, for machines of the class mentioned, an improved stationary platen construction for supporting the work webs for entry of inscription. thereon.

Other objects of the invention will be in part pointed out in the following detailed description of certain illustrative but preferred embodiments of the invention and will be in part obvious as the disclosure proceeds.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a more complete understanding of the objects and nature of the invention, reference is had to the following detailed description and to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a typewriting machine embodying the invention, parts being omitted for clearness of disclosure.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, and

Fig. 3 is a partially diagrammatic side elevation similar to Fig. 2, but showing a slightly modified form of the invention.

For a detailed description of the invention, reference is first made to the preferred embodiment thereof shown in Figs. 1 and 2, showing portions of the supporting frame I0 having spaced base frame members II with upwardly extending spaced supporting extensions l2, which may be supported in correctly spaced relation by means of tie rods such as shown at l3 and i4.

Positioned between the frame members If is a platen l5 having a curved or cylindrical supporting surface l6 over which the work webs or record strips S pass and upon which they are supported during the impression of inscriptions thereon. This platen may be of any suitable material and of suflicient strength to support the record strips during the writing operation thereon. This platen is preferably, as shown, supported in stationary position and remains immovable after it has been installed in the machine. A convenient method of mounting the platen in operative position is to provide in the frame members II the apertures l1 preferably extending entirely through the frame members,

'as shown, and corresponding in outline to the cross sectional configuration of the platen. These apertures thus provide supporting guideways in which the platen is removably supported. Thus,

the platen may be readily moved from its operative position by sliding or withdrawing it from the supporting guideways l'l whereupon another platen may be slid into operative position in the guideways. It is, therefore, a very simple matter to replace a damaged platen by a new one, or to replace a platen having one type of strip supporting surface with another platen having a different supporting surface.

If desired, a stri guiding plate l8 may be mounted adjacent to the platen I5 so as to press the strips against the platen smoothing the. latter and holding them in position as they are fed forwardly during the writing operation. The guiding plate, as. shown, may be mounted upon a supporting rod l9 extending between the frame members II and yieldingly urged into strip engaging position by means of the stressed spring 20.

The feeding means for feeding the record strips into writing position upon the platen I5 is preferably arranged beyond the platen in the direction of strip feed, and in the embodiment shown is supported by the upwardly extending frame extensions l2. shown in this preferred embodiment, this feeding means includes lower sprocket wheels 2| and upper sprocket wheels 22, the lower sprockets being mounted in spaced relation upon a supporting shaft 23 which may be rotatably sup- 5 ported in the frame members i2, as shown. The

upper sprockets 22 are mounted for idle rotation upon the tie rod 4, being held in position upon said rod as by means of collars 24 suitably secured upon the tie rod l4, the latter being fixed to the supporting frame members to prevent rotation thereof.

Endless flexible supporting members or sprocket chains 25 are mounted upon the sprocket wheels 2| and 22 engaging with the teeth of the i5 latter so as to be moved when the sprocket wheels are rotated. Each of these sprocket chains carries a plurality of strip feeding pins 23 which may be mounted in any preferred manner upon the respective links of the sprocket chains. The feed- 20 ing pins on each of the sprocket chains are all spaced apart equal distances and the spacing of the pins on the two chains is the same. The pins upon the two chains are also preferably positioned opposite to each other, thus forming pairs of feed pins adapted to engage feed controlling apertures in the record strips as referred to more in detail below.

For driving the sprockets 2| to drive the feeding sprocket chains 25, the rotary drive shaft 23 may have a knob 21 attached to the projecting end of the shaft which may be grasped by the operator to turn the shaft. Also, in order to check or restrain the strip feed after a predetermined movement thereof to effect line spacing, a

ratchet wheel 28 is preferably rigidly mounted upon the shaft 23 and a detent 29 is mounted upon a lever arm 30 so as to be moved into or out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 28. Biasing means such as a spring may be provided for the lever arm 30, holding the detent in yielding engagement with the ratchet teeth. Means may also be provided for holding the lever 30 in position in which the detent 28 is out of engagement with the ratchet teeth, thus permitting free movement of the drive shaft 23 in a manner well-known in the art.

Positioned adjacent to the driving sprockets 2| are strip sustaining and guiding members 3| which may be supported by the tie rod 3. The

strip guiding members 3| are preferably constructed of yielding material such as thin spring metal and preferably have bifurcated guiding extremities for supporting the record strips as the feed pins 26 are moved into engagement with the 55 strip apertures.

Additional strip guides 32 and 33 are also preferably provided for guiding the strips during feeding movement thereof subsequently to engage-' ment with the feed pins in strip apertures. The

.50 strip guides 32 may, as shown, be in the form of parallel fingers'of wire or the like, mounted upon the supporting rod 34 and extending approximately parallel to the path of strip movement and of the feeding movement of the feed pins 23.

The strip guides 33 are positioned on the 0pm. site side of the path of strip feed from the guides 32, being conveniently supported in stationary position by means of the collars 24. As shown, the guides 33 extend toward the guides 32 being in- 7 clined to the plane or path of strip feed whereby,

when the strips engage these inclined surfaces during feed movement, they are moved away from the feed chains and feed. pins. A guide roll or rod 33 maybe provided for guiding the strips 8 after 76 emergence thereof from the feeding mechanism.

It will be understood that the type bars, one of which is shown at 33, will be supported upon a separate carriage or frame and that the letter spacing as the writing proceeds will be effected by a mechanism well known in the art and speciflcally not forming a part of the present invention. It is therefore deemed unnecessary to disclose this mechanism herein. The line spacing will be effected by feeding the record strips as suggested above and described more fully below.

In the form of the invention shown, the record strips S are led forwardly from a record strip supply pack 8 which may be of any known form but is preferably of the zigzag folded type in which a plurality of superposed continuous or traveler record strips are folded in zigzag formation to make a compact and convenient supply pack. This supply pack may be carried in any convenient manner on the machine and a housing may be provided for it. As many record strips as desired may thus be folded together to form the supply pack. The record strips are thus led forwardly from the supply over suitable guides to the platen I 5. The record strips may be provided at spaced intervals therealong with transverse weakened lines, such as the perforated lines I33 shown. These lines divide the record strips into a series of record leaves or form sheets, each of which may be provided with appropriate blank forms printed thereon. Also, the record strips are provided with feed controlling apertures 31. There are preferably two series of these apertures as shown positioned toward the forward ends of the form sheets.

For transferring the inscriptions to the lower record strips, transfer material of known form may be used. For example, the intermediate strip may be a continuous carbon strip so as to form transfer means operative to transfer the inscriptions throughout the length of the record strips. Also, it may be desirable in some cases to support carbon sheets of shorter lengths in interleaved position with the record strips S so as to effect transfer of the inscriptions as the writing proceeds in a manner understood in the ar The operation of the improved mechanism will now he understood from the foregoing description and for clearness and emphasis may be summarized as follows:

The record strips S, having been led forwardly from the supply pack over the cylindrical supporting surface of the platen, the strip apertures are placed over the feeding posts 26, a pair of which may be substantially in the position shown in Fig. 2, that is, in the vicinity of the feeding sprockets 2|. The record strips may now be adjusted to bring the desired line or writing area thereof in writing position on the platen, such adjustment being accomplished by turning the knob 21 to operate the sprockets 2|, thus moving the strips forwardly. The typewriting mechanism may now be operated, causing the type bars 36 to engage against the strips over the platen to complete the writing of a line.

When a line has been completed, line spacing is effected by again turning the knob 21 to move the record strips forwardly. The checking mechanism 28-29 if set in operative position will operate to check the strip movement after advancement thereof a distance equal to the line spacing. The next successive line may then be typed.

It will be observed that the feeding of the record strip is accomplished principally or wholly by virtue of the engagement of the feed pins 26 in the feed controlling apertures of the strips. The usual gripping and feeding of the strips by engagement thereof with a traveling curved surface such as the surface of a cylinder is entirely avoid- 5 ed. The disadvantages of feeding the strips by such curved surfaces, such as progressive disalignment of the strips, are also entirely avoided. In this improved mechanism, the feeding of the strips is effected by the direct pull of the feed pins 28 upon the walls of the strip apertures, the strips being thus moved together as a unit over the curved surface of the platen I5. By virtue of this arrangement, all of the record strips are kept in exact alignment with each other so that the blank forms or writing areas upon all of the strips are always kept in exact registry and the transfer writing upon the lower strips will always be correctly positioned upon the proper spaces of the forms.

As the typing continues and the record strips are fed forwardly, the feed pins 26 move upwardly carrying the strips with them, until the strips have been fed forwardly substantially the length of one of the record leaves or form sheets. As

the next successive pair of feed pins 26 move over the feed sprockets 2| said pins are brought into the path of strip feed and are thus projected into the next successive pair of strip feed apertures. If there is any tendency whatever of the strips 30 to be out of alignment at this moment, the entry of the feed pins into the apertures will positively bring the strips back again into perfect alignment. The record strips are thus maintained at all times in correct registry with each other, thus producing copies with the writing correctly positioned thereon and avoiding the necessity of manually adjusting and aligning the strips at intervals.

It will be observed that the feed pins 26 in the embodiment shown are spaced apart longitudinally distances equal to the lengths of the form sheets of the record strips. This spacing is desirable because it makes it unnecessary to perforate the strips except at one point thereon which is shown'as being near the forward margin of the form sheets. These apertures, when the form sheets are severed from the record strips may-be utilized for filing the sheets away upon appropriate filing posts which may enter .the

apertures. The upper reaches of the feeding chains 25 are also preferably of greater length than the length of the form sheets so that two successive feed pins upon each feed chain reach may simultaneouslyengage in the strip apertures.

By virtue of this arrangement, at least one pair of feed pins is always in engagement in the apertures of the record strips. Before the leading pins are disengaged from the strip apertures, the next successive following pins will be moved 60 into the next successive strip apertures. This arrangement further minimizes the probability of the record strips becoming disaligned with each other. Also, the pins coming successively into engagement with the strip apertures exert 05 aligning impulses upon the strips positively adjusting the latter and keeping them in alignment at all times. With this arrangement there can be no progressive disalignment of the strips as in cases of strip feed by means of a cylindrical 70 platen or other cylindrical surface. Engagement of the feed pins with the strip apertures is facilitated by means of the sustaining or guiding members 3| bearing against the strips and holding them in position as the pins move into engage- 75 ment with the strip apertures. Also, the strips are guided and maintained in position to keep the pins in engagement therewith during continued feeding action by means of the elongated strip guides or guiding fingers 32. A support or supporting plate may be provided for supporting the strips as they move upwardly along the feeding reaches of the chains 25 or these portions of the strips may be supported directly upon the chains as shown.

As the, feeding of the strips progresses, the in strips are disengaged from-the leading feed pins by virtue of the engagement thereof with the inclined surfaces of the strip guides 33 which are positioned on the opposite side of the strip path from the guides 32 and diverge forwardly 15 with reference to the path of the feed pins. Upon emergence of the strips from the feeding mechanism, the freed ends thereof may be severed across an appropriate blade or tearing edge (not shown) or they may be led forwardly over 20 the guide roll 35 and then disposed of in any desired manner.

Another preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the partially diagrammatic view of Fig. 3. Asthe various elements of this em- 25 bodiment are similar to those of the other preferred embodiment, they are designated by the same reference characters with the addition of the index 11". However, in this embodiment, the feeding reaches of the strip feeding sprocket 30 chains 25a are disposed in substantially horizontal position so as to feed the forward parts of the record strips along a horizontal plane. The strip guides 32a and 33a are similar to the corresponding guides already described and they 35 perform similar functions but they are disposed in slightly different positions in order to cooperate properly with the strips S, as the latter are fed forwardly. The operation in this form will be obvious to those skilled in the art in view 40 of the detailed description of the other preferred embodiment.

When the record strips are advanced over' the platen l5a. by operation of the driving sprocket. 2laand the feed pins 2611, said strips pass from 45 the platen directly to the driving sprocket as in the preceding embodiment, but they pass partially around said driving sprocket proceeding from the latter substantially in a horizontal plane. After the strips have been disengaged from the 50 feed pins by the action of the guides 33a,- the forwardly fed ends may be severed or they may remain integral with the main body of the strips and be folded or otherwise filed away or disposed of.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is z- 1. In a typewriting machine, in combination,

a platen having a curved supporting surface against which the type bars strike, and being positioned forsupporting a plurality of traveler record strips in superposed manifolding relation causing the superposed strips to travel in a. curved path, said record strips having therein a 1ongitudinal series of controlling apertures, a feeding device including movably mounted feed pins entering the strip apertures beyond the platen for drawing and feeding said'strips over said curved supporting surface, a flexible endless carrier on which said pins are mounted in serial arrangement so as to enter successive strip apertures 5 as the strips are advanced, driving and supporting wheels for said flexible carrier, providing a feed reach oi the carrier between the supporting Wheels, said feed pins being longitudinally spaced apart a distance less than the length of the feed reach of said flexible carrierso that a plurality of said pins may simultaneously engage the control apertures, a strip engaging guide positioned adjacent to the forward part of the path of pin travel and inclining and diverging forwardly with reference to said path so as to disengage the strips from the pins, and actuating means for said driving wheels.

2. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen having a curved supporting surface over which a plurality of traveler record strips with form sheets therealong pass in superposed manifolding relation, causing the superposed strips to travel in a curved path, said record strips having therein a longitudinal series'of controlling apertures longitudinally spaced at distances substantially equal to form-sheet lengths, a feeding device including movably mounted feed pins entering the strip apertures beyond the platen for drawing and feeding said strips over said curved supporting surface, a flexible endless carrier on which said pins are mounted in serial arrangement and longitudinally spaced substantially the same as said apertures, so as to enter successive strip apertures as the latter are advanced, said flexible carrier being positioned beyond the platen in the direction of strip feed, whereby the strips are drawn by the pins over the curved platen surface, driving and supporting wheels for said flexible carrier, longitudinally spaced apart greater than the pin spacing so that a plurality of said pins may simultaneously engage the control apertures, actuating means for said driving wheels,

and a strip engaging guide positioned adjacent to the forward part of the path of pin travel and inclining and diverging forwardly with reference to said path so as to disengage the strips from the pins.

3. In a manifolding machine, in combination,

a platen for supporting a record strip with longitudinally spaced apertures therein, a flexible endless carrier, a rotary support for said carrier positioned beyond said platen in the direction of strip feed, a plurality ofvaperture-engaging pins supported by said carrier and spaced therealong,

and an inclined strip-guide positioned alongside of said flexible carrier and inclining with reference to the path in the direction of strip-feed from a point beneath the strip to a point above the endless carrier path so as to engage beneath an advancing strip to disengage it from the feed pin.

4. In a manifolding machine, in combination,

a platen for supporting in superposed manifolding relation a plurality of record strips with longitudinally spaced apertures therein, a flexible endless carrier, a plurality of longitudinally spaced rotary supports for said carrier positioned beyond said platen in the direction of strip feed, a plurality of pins supported by said carrier and spaced therealong, a strip-engaging,

resilient guide positioned adjacent to the flrst of said rotary supports so as to yieldingly urge the record strips as the pins pass about the rotary support into strip-aperture engagement, and

an inclined strip guide positioned between said rotary supports and engaging the under side of the advancing strips to disengage them from the feed pins.

5. In a manifolding machine, in combination, a platen for supporting in superposed manifolding 5 relation a plurality of record strips with longitudinally spaced apertures therein, a flexible endless carrier, a rotary support for said carrier positioned beyond said platen in the direction of strip feed, a plurality of pins supported by said 10 carrier and spaced therealong, a strip-engaging resilient guide positioned adjacent said rotary support so as to yieldingly urge the record strips, as said pins pass about said rotary support, into strip aperture engagement, said resilient guide 15 including spring flngers laterally spaced apart so as to engage the strips adjacent to both lateral sides of thepins as the latter come into aperture engagement.

6. In a manifolding machine, in combination, 20 a platen for supporting in superposed manifolding relation a plurality of record strips with Iongitudinally spaced apertures therein, a flexible endless carrier, a plurality of longitudinally spaced rotary supports for said carrier positioned 25 beyond said platen in the direction of strip feed, a plurality of pins supported by said carrier and spaced therealong, a strip-engaging, resilient guide positioned adjacent to the flrst of said rotary supports so as to yieldingly urge the record 30 stripsas the pins pass about the rotary support into strip-aperture engagement, and an inclined strip guide positioned between said rotary supports and engaging the under side of the advancing strips to disengage them from the feed 35 pins, both said resilient guide and said inclined guide including guiding flngers laterally spaced apart so as to engage the strips adjacent to both lateral sides of the pins as the latter are engaged or disengaged with the apertures. 40

7. In a manifolding machine, in combination, a platen for supporting in superposed manifolding relation a plurality of record strips with longitudinally spaced apertures therein, a flexible endless carrier, a plurality of longitudinally spaced rotary supports for said carrier positioned beyond said platen in the direction of strip feed, a plurality of pins supported by said carrier and spaced therealong, a strip-engaging, resilient guide positioned adjacent to the first of said ro- 50 tary supports so as to yieldingly urge the record strips as the pins pass about the rotary support into strip-aperture engagement, an inclined strip guide positioned between said rotary supports and engaging the under side of the advancing 55 strips to disengage them from the feed pins, and strip-engaging guiding flngers positioned between said resilient guide and said inclined guide.

8. In a manifolding machine, in combination, a platen for supporting in superposed manifold- 60 log relation a plurality of record strips with longitudinally spaced apertures therein, a flexible endless carrier, a plurality of longitudinally spaced rotary supports for said carrier positioned beyond said platen in the direction of strip 65 feed, a plurality of pins supported by said carrier and spaced therealong, a strip-engaging, resilient guide positioned adjacent to the first of said rotary supports so as to yieldingly urge the record strips as'the pins pass about the rotary 70 support into strip-aperture engagement, an inclined strip guide positioned between said rotary supports and engaging the under side of the advancing strips to disengage them from the feed pins, and a supporting frame attached to the 75 machine and having transverse supporting members carrying said strip guides and said rotary strip supports.

9. In a manifolding machine, in combination, a platen for supporting a record strip having form-sheets therealong and having feed controlling apertures spaced substantially at formsheet-length intervals, a strip-feeding means including a flexible, endless carrier having a feeding reach positioned beyond said platen, a plurality of aperture-engaging feed pins carried by said flexible carrier and longitudinally spaced thereon substantially at form-length intervals, said feeding reach of the flexible carrier being longer than said pin spacing so that a plurality of said pins in said reach may simultaneously engage in the longitudinally spaced feed-controlling apertures, a strip engaging guide positioned adjacent to the forward part of the path of pin travel and inclining and diverging forwardly with reference to said path so as to disengage the strips from the pins, and driving means for driving said feeding means to draw the strip over said platen.

10. In a manifolding machine, in combination, a platen for supporting a record strip having form-sheets therealong and having feed-controlling apertures spaced substantially at formsheet-length intervals, 2, strip-feeding means including a flexible, endless carrier having a feeding reach positioned beyond said platen, a plurality of aperture-engaging feed pins carried by said flexible carrier and longitudinally spaced thereon substantially at form-sheet-length intervals, said feeding reach of the flexible carrier being longer than said pin-spacing so that a plurality of said pins in said reach may simultaneously engage in the longitudinally spaced feed-controlling apertures, driving means for driving said feeding means to draw the strip over said platen, and strip-guide fingers arranged in series along said flexible carrier for guiding the strip with reference to the carrier and pins.

11. In a manifolding machine, in combination, a platen for supporting a record strip having form-sheets therealong and having feed-controlling apertures spaced substantially at formsheet-length intervals, a strip-feeding means including a flexible, endless carrier having a feed ing reach positioned beyond said platen, a plurality of aperture-engaging feed pins carried by said flexible carrier and longitudinally spaced thereon substantially at form-sheet-length intervals, said feeding reach of the flexible carrier being longer than said pin-spacing so that a plurality of said pins in said reach may simultaneously engage in the longitudinally spaced feed-controlling apertures, driving means for driving said feeding means to draw the strip over said platen, rotary supports for said flexible carrier, a resilient guide positioned adjacent to one of said rotary supports so as to yieldingly urge the record strips into strip-aperture-engagement as the pins rotate with said rotary support, and an elongated strip-guide-finger extending along the flexible carrier between said rotary supports.

12. In a manifolding machine, in combination, a platen for supporting a record strip having form-sheets therealong and having feed-controlling apertures spaced substantially at formsheet-length intervals, a strip-feeding means including a flexible, endless carrier having a feeding reach positioned beyond said platen, a plurality of apertureengaging feed pins carried by said flexible carrier and longitudinally spaced thereon substantially at form-sheet-length intervals, said feeding reach of the flexible carrier being longer than said pin-spacing so that a plurality of saidpins in said reach may simultaneously engage in the longitudinally spaced feedcontrolling apertures, driving means for driving said feeding means to draw the strip over said platen, strip-guide-fingers for guiding the strip with reference to the carrier and pins, and an inclined strip-guide positioned alongside of said flexible carrier and inclining with reference to thecarrier path in the direction of strip-feed from a point beneath the strip to a point above the endless carrier path so as to engage beneath an advancing strip to disengage it from a feed pm.

LOUIS FRED. HAGEMANN. 

